The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-09-01
A LOOK AT ST. LOUIS.
SOMETHING ABOUT ITS BUILDINGS,
PARKS AND CLUBS.
The Story of the Town-Its Theatres aud
Its Exposition Building-Its Big Bridge.
Adelaide Nelson's Tree-The Granite
Mountain Silver Mine.


Adelaide Nelson's Tree-The Granite
Mountain Silver Mine.
Special Correspondence
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 23-St Louis is one of the
wealthiest and most cultured cities of the
United States. 1t has street after street of
fine residences, and its old families are as nu-
merous as those of Philadelphia or Boston.
1t is one of the Oldest towns in the United
States, and it was French settlement more
than 100 years ago. 1t was twelve years be-
fore the Declaration of Independence was
signed that fur trader named Laclede chose
what is now the center of the river portion of
the city as trading post, and among the col
ony OF thirty who came with him were the
forefathers of some of the wealthiest families
of st. Louis today. The town was named st.
Louis after Louis XIV, and it was forty two
years old when jefferson bought Louisiana Of
France for S15,OOO0O0. 1t then had $50
houses and 1000 people. Now it has more
than 100000 inhabitants, and its wealth will
run into the hundreds of millions.
The city covers the western bank of the
Mississippi for nine miles, and of late it has
been pushing itself west and far back into the
country. The best houses are at the west end,
and new boulevard is now being made on
which the residences of rich men will be
plentiful. These st. Louis people like the
good things Of this life and they have them.
Their houses are large and roomy. They
have well cut lawns about them, and many
of the finer houses have been occupied for
over generation. The st. Louis club houses
are as fine as any you will find anywhere,
and the town is a club loving city. The St.
Louis club has 400 members, and its initia-
ton fee is $780, 1t has an elegant stone and
brick club house, covering a quarter of a
block, and its cuisine is equal to that of Del
monico. Its members consist of the weather.
men of the town. and it is the tony club of st.
Louis. The University club is rather more
intellectual in its character, but it has fine
club house and good membership. The
Commercial club is one of the solid business
clubs of the city and the Mercantile club is
another 1t was from the Mercantile club
that the $4,000 of exposition stock was sub
scribed, and the great trades procession which
the president is to see had its origin here.
Then st. Louis has big bicycle club. 1t has
rowing clubs and musical clubs and other
organizations of a social nature, and many of
them have buildings and all are in thriving
condition.
The town spends a great deal upon its
amusements, and its exposition building cost
S750,00O. 1t covers between six and seven
acres of ground and was erected within
year. 1t contains music hall which will
seat 1000 persons, and the stage of this is one
of the largest in the world. The city has
seven theatres embracing all classes, from
the opera house to the varieties. 1t has a
geological garden, and it has the greatest area
of fine parks of any city in the United States
except Philadelphia. l drove through a